Reader Cynthia spotted this error at a Lowe’s store while looking at fake fireplaces. “Mesh grill produces a realistic lame effect,” reads the last line of the tag. Well, which is it, fireplace tag? Is it realistic or is it lame, in the colloquial sense where “lame” means “crappy”? [More]

When the Fledglings Return to the Nest [NY Times] “Boomerangs may be turning up on your own doorstep soon. And with them come a host of unusual economic – and parenting – questions that you may not have considered.”

Unable to stand the mystery any longer, Matt caved and cut open his pillow that sports a tag saying it contains 100% of “TEXTILE FABRICS OF AN UNKOWN KIND.” Now we know what’s inside these pillows: a heterogeneous mixture of shredded clothing and fabric factory leftovers. Mmm, downy soft sweet dreams. Don’t worry, this isn’t some scam, “Textile fibers of unknown kind” are a legally accepted industry label meaning, “new material consisting of a variety of fibers that has been reduced to a fibrous state.” Still, it’s crazy to think that’s what you might be sleeping on. More pics, inside.

I had a pillow that says ‘contains textiles of 100% unknown kind’ on that tag that says ‘Do not remove under penalty of law’. Kind of defeats the purpose of the tag, and I’m wondering what is in my pillow. Used underpants? Human hair? It does say ‘all new materials’ but that might just be ‘new to me.’

Walmart’s little yellow smiley face must have taken revenge on the corporate overseers who make him slash through the aisles like a jaundiced deflationary Casper. More pictures and our tipster’s email, inside…

Wesabe is one of those crafty community-based web 2.0 sites that is both helpful and intuitive. Why is the Consumerist telling you about it? Because it’s about your money and how you spend it. According to Cory Doctorow (of BoingBoing, and who also sits on Wesabe’s Advisory Board):

If you’re a yuppie and would like to purchase some street cred, literally, head on over to ryanfrank.net. He leaves white plywood board in graffiti hotspots around London, lets it get soaked in tags, then assembles the pieces into “repurposed urban furniture,” yours for just a few thousands of dollars.